Judge Rules Stanford Is Not Required to Administer the NCAA’s Drug Tests

In a decision that could affect student-athletes nationwide, a Santa Clara County judge ruled Wednesday that Stanford is not required to test athletes under the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. drug-testing program.

Superior Court Judge Conrad Rushing issued a permanent injunction allowing all Stanford athletes to compete without submitting to the tests.

Rushing found that the NCAA program “invades student-athletes’ privacy” and “interferes with the athletes’ right to treat themselves with appropriate over-the-counter medications as other students do.”

Last November, in a preliminary injunction banning drug testing at the university, Rushing excluded football players and men’s basketball players, saying they could be tested for four substances--steroids, cocaine, heroin and amphetamines.

But in Wednesday’s ruling, made after a full trial sought by the NCAA, he said, “It appears the evidence is wholly insufficient to support the NCAA program of drug testing in any sport.”

The injunction was sought by Stanford and two student athletes, Jennifer Hill of the women’s soccer team and football linebacker Barry McKeever.

The students were represented by attorneys acting for the Northern California chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU said there is not enough drug use among student-athletes to justify what it calls an “intrusive” testing program.

Attorney Susan Harriman, who represented McKeever and Hill, said the ruling is “certainly going to have an effect” on college sports, especially championship competitions that attract many of Stanford’s 600 athletes.

Reached at his home Thursday night, NCAA executive assistant director Dave Cawood said: “We don’t ever comment on those decisions until we get a chance to read them.”